Monday, 31 March 2008

Starbucks Mug Japan 2008

My collection of Starbucks mugs has been growing quite a bit since I last posted about it. One of the mugs I've gotten this year has been the Japan 2008 Starbucks mug which I grabbed on Boxing Day (the day it came out). As usual it sold out days after it's release.

Starbucks Mug Japan 2008

It has a really nice design on it featuring some Japanese influenced artwork instead of the American pop art that's normally on a Starbucks mug. The year "2008" is also written in Japanese. Nice!

Like this site? Subscribe to my site feed or email newsletter to get our updates as soon as they're online.

Labels: japan, Starbucks Mugs Collection

Sunday, 30 March 2008

Working in Japan

Probably the biggest downside of working in Japan for a Japanese company is that every now and then they make you work longer hours and longer weeks by throwing contract details in your face.

For almost the past 3 weeks now I've been working six day weeks (Monday - Saturday) due to the company now being in "Sales Period". Instead of teaching classes we get to perform "Demo Lessons" all day to try and enrol new students for the next semester.

While I can see why the company does it, almost zero consideration is given to the employees at the company. The Japanese say "Customer is god" but unfortunately that also means "Employees come last".

To make matters worse most people don't get overtime pay or any compensation at all for this extra work. It seems to be "expected".

If you have any interviews for a Japanese job coming up I highly recommend asking direct questions about any extra work that will be involved in your position and what compensation (if any) you will be getting.

Another great question to ask (and one that I really regret not asking) is "How do you define success in this company?". If you want to work your way up in a Japanese company never assume that you will be. Ask how it is done and if it's even a possibility.

Do you have any questions or advice about working in Japan? Comment away!

Like this site? Subscribe to my site feed or email newsletter to get our updates as soon as they're online.

Labels: japan, Teaching English in Japan

Wednesday, 19 March 2008

Did Japan Change YOU?

Something that I've really begun to notice lately is how much Japan changes people, though the change seems to go entirely unnoticed by the people themselves.

One such change is the evolution from "small talker" to "big talker" and visa versa. I've seen several people (friends and acquaintances) who over the first and second years of being in Japan have begun to speak increasingly louder to the point where I wonder if they're suffering from an inner ear infection.

I'm not talking about drunk loud talking, I'm talking about everyday sober conversation that now gets the reaction from myself and those around me "Why are you yelling?".

It's really kind of funny (when it's not off putting) and my theory is that because Japanese people rarely talking on trains, or anywhere else in public and when they do it's in hushed whispers some people unconsciously begin to overcompensate by raising the level of their own voice.

I've however begun to do the opposite! I've begun to realise that I'm now such a quiet speaker that people I speak to can't hear what I say! This became very apparent when I went back to Australia and spoke to "normal" people. I've also been told several times at work to speak louder during meetings and trainings. Haha.

Have you become a "small speaker" or "big talker"?

Like this site? Subscribe to my site feed or email newsletter to get our updates as soon as they're online.

Labels: japan

Thursday, 6 March 2008

How to Speak Japanese

Love this hillarious clip from a very underrated film called, Scary Movie 4 which parodies the American remake of Juon, The Grudge. Funny stuff on how to speak Japanese. Anyone can do it!

Like this site? Subscribe to my site feed or email newsletter to get our updates as soon as they're online.

Labels: Japanese, movies

Saturday, 1 March 2008

How to Get Your Balls Grabbed in Japan

Have you ever wondered how to get a complete stranger to hold, slap or grab your genitalia in private, on a street, in a shopping centre or even on the train? Well you're in luck because I'm about to reveal exactly how to achieve this with no training required and at no cost to you!

Are you ready?

Prepare to have your testicles grabbed by Japanese strangers like never before!

The secret is...

...

...simply walk behind a Japanese man or woman! Anywhere! Any time! You see it seems that once they begin walking a lot of Japanese people seem to lose all muscle control of their arms which begin to swing in all directions at once with no thought as to what they'll hit.

Sometimes I've had my special place slapped several times within the span of 15 minutes! And just to clarify, there was no effort on my part at all. I don't go thrusting my crouch into strangers' hands. The grabbing and slapping is purely an unintentional action on the other's part.

Strange? Yes. Have you had this happen to you in Tokyo or elsewhere in Japan? Certainly I'm not the only person who's been hit in such ways or at least noticed all the flapping arms in this country.

Maybe it's just me.

Maybe it's just passive aggressive Free Hugging?

Anyone know how much a box is?

Like this site? Subscribe to my site feed or email newsletter to get our updates as soon as they're online.

Labels: Free Hugs, japan, Japanese Social Issues